Tahoua Region

Tahoua Region stretches from Niger's populated southern zone into the Saharan fringe, creating a transition zone between agricultural south and pastoral north. The region borders Nigeria to the south—one of five Niger regions sharing the 1,600-kilometer frontier—and participates in cross-border trade networks that sustain rural livelihoods. Pastoral communities follow traditional transhumance routes, moving livestock between seasonal pastures in patterns now disrupted by both climate change and insecurity. Agriculture concentrates in the south where rainfall permits millet, sorghum, and cowpea cultivation. The regional capital Tahoua serves as a market town connecting pastoral and agricultural economies. Security concerns have increased as militant groups operating in neighboring Tillaberi region expand their zones of control, though Tahoua has experienced less direct violence than western Niger. Climate vulnerability remains acute: drought years devastate pastoral herds, while floods can destroy crops, leaving populations dependent on food aid. The closed borders following the 2023 coup disrupted trade patterns and food supplies. By 2026, Tahoua's trajectory depends on whether security deterioration from Tillaberi spreads eastward, whether traditional pastoral and agricultural livelihoods remain viable amid climate stress, and whether cross-border trade with Nigeria resumes fully.